Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center (1P)

About the role

This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to fill several full-time Nursing Assistant positions within the Short Stay Rehabilitation Neighborhood 1P unit in the GEC Department. Resumes will be referred to the hiring manager after the vacancy closes on Thursday, October 29th. Applicants will receive an email notification when their resume has been referred, if applicable.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education or Training: Six months of general experience demonstrating the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant; OR one year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study (or program) of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
• English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j.
• May qualify based on the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees in this occupation who meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: GS-5 Nursing Assistant

• Experience: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) directly related to the specific assignment, plus the professional KSAs listed below.
• Education: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care, or possession of a bachelor's degree. Transcript required.
• Demonstrated KSAs:
  • Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long-term care, or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse.
  • Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel, including serving as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience in a clinical setting.
  • Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance (e.g., recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding, assisting with behavior crisis).

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected is in the range of GS-05.

Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes physicality normally associated with direct patient care: lifting, prolonged standing, sitting, frequent bending, stooping, walking, reaching, repetitive motion, and climbing stairs. Mental/sensory requirements include logical thinking, processing and retaining information, reading, recall, reasoning, complex problem solving, hearing, clear distinct speech, writing, keyboarding, use of a telephone, and use of video connectivity. The position requires face-to-face patient care, use of available IT software and equipment for virtual visits, and timely, accurate navigation of and documentation in electronic medical records. The environment's pace can vary from steady to fast-paced, requiring handling multiple priorities, frequent sometimes intense customer interactions, and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment. There may be a need to use personal protective equipment to prevent exposure to disease, illness, and hazardous materials. The position involves working with persons with communication difficulties, cognitive loss including dementia, behavioral challenges, altered mentation, and stressed caregivers. Collaboration with multiple stakeholders is essential. Compliance with VHA-mandated vaccinations and meeting employee health requirements is required.

Responsibilities

The Nursing Assistant (NA) provides care within the scope and certification of a CNA in the assigned nursing unit, clinic, or area, and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related units. The incumbent provides care and services to multiple populations admitted to the unit as determined by patient/resident need, contributing to optimizing outcomes as a member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides direct patient/resident care in the provision of psychological, physical, social, and cultural activities of daily living — complete and supportive.
• Provides care with dignity and continuous consideration of the individual's emotional needs.
• Provides reporting, communication, and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Maintains certification and BLS.
• Remains current in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, CVHCS, VISN, and National Agencies.
• Demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, application of technical standards, and performance of administrative support duties.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with standard operating procedures for the maintenance of reusable medical equipment.
• Participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships.
• Attends unit-level and Medical Center meetings and develops as an employee to support committee participation.
• Maintains patient/resident safety standards assuring privacy, physical safety, and psychological safety.
• Establishes working relationships with multidisciplinary and multi-level team members promoting physical, psychological, and emotional safety of the working environment for all.
• Provides aid and support to the Registered Nurse and/or provider within the scope of CNA certification/grade and consistent with Medical Center policy.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills to provide care consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice for optimal outcomes for patients, residents, visitors, and employees.
• Recognizes, responds, and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergencies such as cardiac and/or respiratory failure.

Schedule

All shifts available, including holidays and weekends.

Additional Information: Telework is not available. This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives are not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is not authorized.